Electronic device and method for testing a circuit board

ABSTRACT

An electronic device, and associated method, provided with a circuit board ( 10 ), with a set of input contacts (IN/COM), a set of output contacts (OUT/COM) and an electrical circuit ( 18 ) connected between the input contacts (IN/COM) and the output contacts (OUT/COM) and a controller. The controller carries out a real-time test of the circuit board using a test signal introduced into the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit ( 18 ) being designed as a passive network having a characteristic transfer function and provided with at least two separate partial circuits ( 18′, 18 ″) wherein the separate partial circuits are electrically connected in the assembled state by cooperation with at least one of: at least one device components and/or assembly components ( 181 ).

This is a Continuation of International Application PCT/EP2009/003787,with an international filing date of May 28, 2009, which was publishedunder PCT Article 21(2) in German, and the complete disclosure of which,including amendments, is incorporated into this application byreference.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electronic device having

-   -   a circuit board having a set of input contacts, a set of output        contacts and an electrical circuit connected between the input        contacts and the output contacts, and    -   a controller.

The invention also relates to a method for testing a circuit boardhaving a set of input contacts, a set of output contacts and anelectrical circuit connected between the input contacts and the outputcontacts, including:

-   -   a) application of a predetermined test signal to the set of        input contacts,    -   b) tapping off a response signal at the set of output contacts,    -   c) carrying out a signal analysis on the response signal.

Product piracy is growing continuously, including in the field ofhigh-quality electronic devices. The circuit boards of such deviceswhich are equipped with electronic components, in particular, are ofteneasily copied and can be made in low-wage countries at non-competitivelycheap prices. The manufacturers of the original devices and the originalcircuit boards suffer great losses as a result. Industrial propertyrights often have no effect in these situations, since most circuitboards have a design that is obvious to a person skilled in the art, inview of their special use.

Many original manufacturers counter this trend with an optical markingof their circuit boards that is supposedly difficult to copy, forexample, with hologram stickers. Apart from the fundamental possibilityof removing stickers, the holograms present a certain impediment tocounterfeiters, but they can be copied with sufficient effort or can atleast be similarly mimicked to a high level of precision. In any case,protective measures of this type only affect those users who place valueon the use of original parts. Users who specifically wish to use cheapercopies are not affected by such a copy-protection system.

In order to copy the electronic function of a circuit board, the visiblecomponent set thereof can be adopted. In order to reconstruct theinternal wiring, it is known to apply a DC signal to the terminals ofthe circuit board in pairs and to test the connection of each terminalto all the other terminals and/or to test testing points on the circuitboard by means of continuity measurements.

In a more complex method as disclosed in the basis reference JP 11026747AA, a defined test signal is applied to a pair of input contacts and aresultant output signal is tapped off at a pair of output contacts. Itis herein possible that an input contact is identical to an outputcontact and therefore a total of three test contacts can be used. It isalso conceivable, however, that the set of input contacts and/or the setof output contacts includes more than two contacts. However, thisvariant, which is encompassed by the present invention, is not disclosedin the cited document. On suitable completion of the test and thelogical analysis, electronic functions of a possibly component-equippedcircuit board can be analyzed and then simulated in a hardware copy ornumerically in software. Counterfeits of this type cannot be effectivelycounteracted through the known copying prevention methods.

In the field of card readers, i.e. devices which read or writeinformation from and/or to IC cards which function as a storage mediumand/or as an authorization confirmation, in order to recognize the cardstandard, it is known to establish and analyze a standardizedidentification communication between the reading device and activecomponents of the card interface. The aim of the communication is todisclose the respective present interface standard as fully as possibleto the reader, in order to enable the reader to select and use theprotocols appropriate to the actual interface. Examples of such devicesare disclosed in the references WO 01/06443 A1 and EP 1 607 899 B1.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to make available a copyprotection system for circuit boards that is difficult forcounterfeiters to circumvent and is obligatory for all users to use.

In accordance with one formulation of the invention, at least onceduring operation of an electronic device, the controller

-   -   applies a predetermined test signal to the set of input        contacts,    -   taps off a response signal at the set of output contacts,    -   carries out a signal analysis on the response signal,    -   compares a result of the signal analysis with an expected value        stored in a memory of the controller, and    -   in the event that there is no match between the signal analysis        result and the expected value, prevents, at least partially,        further operation of the device,    -   wherein the electrical circuit is configured as a passive        network comprising at least two separate partial circuits which,        in the installed condition, are connected to electrically        conduct by interaction with at least one of: at least one device        component and at least one installation component.

Prevention of further operation of the device may include, e.g.,deactivation of the device, a blocking of the activation of the device,etc. The prevention may also be contained to a partial prevention, e.g.,by deactivating or blocking only certain functions or specificoperations. The passive network is characterized by a transfer functionthat is, e.g., source-specific or even specific to the individualelectrical circuit.

In accordance with another formulation of the invention, a controller isprovided, which

-   -   carries out the above-mentioned applying, tapping off and        analyzing at least once during operation of an electronic device        which comprises the circuit board,    -   compares the result of the signal analysis with an expected        value stored in a memory of the controller, and    -   in the event that there is no match between the signal analysis        result and the expected value, at least partially prevents,        e.g., deactivates or does not activate, further operation of the        electronic device,        wherein the electrical circuit is configured as a passive        network having a characteristic transfer function, e.g., one        that is source-specific or unique to the circuit board itself,        and comprising at least two separate partial circuits which, in        the installed condition, are connected to electrically conduct        by interaction with at least one of: at least one device        component and at least one installation component.

According to one aspect, the invention builds into the properoperational sequence of a device which interacts with the copy-protectedcircuit board and into which the copy-protected circuit board ispreferably integrated, a circuit board test procedure which ispreferably not noticed by the user. This procedure can be built, forexample, into software which controls the operation of the electronicdevice and which, for instance, is performed on starting up the deviceor when a program using the circuit board to be tested is calledpossibly in the context of an initialization routine. Longer-term testprocedures which, for instance, require the device to be put intooperation several times, tests at a predetermined or randomly selectedtime point during operation, or sporadic tests which are not carried outduring each operation, but only occasionally, can also be implemented.This makes recognition of the relationship between the use of acounterfeit circuit board and cessation of the device operation moredifficult.

Preferably the active element is a microprocessor. A microprocessor ofthis type is used as a typical core element of a controller ofelectronic devices. It is connected with its inputs and outputs to theterminals of the circuit board to be controlled by it. It is thereforenot difficult to control the microprocessor such that it outputs apredetermined test signal at defined input terminals of the circuitboard to be tested and receives a resulting response signal at twooutputs. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the controller, inparticular the microprocessor is arranged on the circuit board itself.

The typically analog response signal is preferably digitized and issuitably analyzed. A signal suitable for use as the test signal ispreferably a pulsed signal or an alternating current signal with apredetermined frequency or an alternating current signal with a sequenceof predetermined frequencies. The advantage of the pulsed signal lies inthe fact that it takes up only very little time while also containing aplurality of frequencies, so that the response signal represents animpulse response that is typical of the transfer function of theconnected electrical circuit. The response signal is analyzed in thecontroller, i.e. preferably in the microprocessor, according topredetermined parameters. This analysis can involve a spectral analysisof the response signal and/or determination of a phase shift relative tothe input signal.

The result of the signal analysis is then compared against an expectedvalue which is stored in a memory of the controller. The concept of theexpected value should be understood in a broad sense and encompassesboth individual values and groups of individual values, such as phaseshifts and spectral distributions. If the result of the signal analysismatches the expected value, i.e. if the circuit board reacts in theexpected way, the test is ended as successful and normal operation ofthe electronic device is continued. The user preferably notices nothingthereof. If, however, the result of the signal analysis should deviatefrom the expected value significantly, i.e. lies outside specifiedtolerances, the controller concludes therefrom that the circuit boardtested is not an original and at least partially ends the operation ofthe electronic device. This can be carried out in that any functionsrunning are deactivated, or activation required for further operation isomitted. Ending operation can involve the whole operation of the deviceor merely some functions, e.g. those specifically performed bycomponents of the suspect circuit board. The possibility of endingoperation of only some functions offers itself if completely endingoperation would result in safety risks to the user. Partial deactivationor non-activation of operation can also be realized, for example, withdelayed—complete or again only partial—deactivation or non-activation.

In order to ensure efficient copy protection, the input and outputterminals used for the test should be meaningfully chosen. This isensured by configuring the electrical circuit on the circuit board as apassive origin-specific or circuit board-specific network with ohmicresistors and capacitively and/or inductively acting elements.Favorably, the electrical circuit used for the test has no otherfunction during operation of the device. With the unique arrangement anddimensioning of simply configured passive elements, such as capacitors,coils and resistors, networks can be constructed which have a highlycharacteristic transfer function. In addition, elements of this type canbe realized on circuit boards without a significant cost. In this way,company-specific or even circuit board-specific identifications can beimplemented. The expected value has also to be selected accordingly inthe memory of the electronic device. This value can be programmed, forexample, at the factory on first equipping of the device with circuitboards. When the device is professionally serviced, including possibleexchange of a circuit board, the expected value can be newly programmedin.

In order to improve the copy protection, the components forming thenetwork are preferably “hidden” on the circuit board. This can beachieved in that they are embedded in inner layers of the circuit board.Resistors can be realized in an inconspicuous manner with long, verythin conductor tracks. Capacitors are simply configured as conductorsurfaces spaced apart from one another. Based on the widespreadtechnology of “flooding” unused circuit board areas, i.e. the conductorlayer is typically allowed to remain in unused circuit board areas, eachcircuit board has many conductor surfaces, so that optical analysis ofthe board, for example with X-rays, does not reveal any hiddencapacitors.

According to a further aspect of the invention, it is provided that thestored expected value is different from a signal analysis result whichcomes from carrying out the above-mentioned applying, tapping off andanalyzing on an isolated circuit board. In other words, this means thata test carried out on the test circuit board in the installed conditionleads to a different signal analysis result (represented in the storedexpected value) than the same test carried out with the circuit boardseparate from the device. This can be achieved in that at least one ofthe elements of the e.g. origin-specific or circuit board-specificnetwork on the circuit board interacts, in the installed condition inthe electronic device, with device components or installation componentsso that the capacitance value or inductance value or resistance valuethereof is different in the installed condition from the capacitancevalue or inductance value or resistance value thereof in the removedcondition. The components designated installation components are thosewhich become active on installation of the circuit boards into theelectronic device. These can be, for example, clamping contacts, screwsor other fastening bolts/pins, etc. Components designated devicecomponents are those which are positioned on the device side and do notprimarily serve for the installation of the circuit board. Devicecomponents of this type can be positioned, for example, on other circuitboards installed in the device. Possible device components include, forexample, conductor surfaces molded into a housing of the device tocomplete a capacitor, coils to add an inductance, resistors or bridgingwires. By this means, components external to the circuit board influencethe transfer function of the electrical network. A correspondingexpected value is stored in the memory of the controller. Acounterfeiter who subjects a circuit board of this type to a complexanalytical process would always do so with an isolated circuit board. Ifhe succeeds in creating a counterfeit circuit board which showsidentical transfer functions to the original circuit board between allthe input and output contact pairs, he still cannot circumvent the testprocedure according to the invention, since from the functionalanalysis, he cannot discover the particular spatial arrangement of allthe components of the network, although said arrangement is essential tothe interaction with the device-side components and thus to the transferfunction of relevance for the test.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, it is provided thatthe electrical circuit comprises at least two separate partial circuitswhich, in the installed condition, are connected in electricallyconducting manner by interaction with one or more device componentsand/or installation components. Each attempt at a functional analysis ofa circuit board of this type would lead at most to knowledge of thetransfer function or impulse response of each individual partialcircuit. Only in the installed condition are the two partial circuitslinked to a complete network, which has an entirely different transferfunction or impulse response, which specifically cannot be representedas a linear combination of the transfer functions or impulse responsesof the partial circuits.

It can also be provided that, as the inductively acting element, aconducting wire is looped into a coil around a cut-out in the circuitboard which, in the installed condition, is penetrated by aferromagnetic rod of the electronic device or by a ferromagneticfastening bolt. This means that the inductance of this coil in theinstalled condition, i.e. with the ferromagnetic core is markedlydifferent from the inductance thereof in the uninstalled condition. Thetransfer function of the network changes accordingly.

Finally, in an alternative or additionally usable variant, it can alsobe provided that, as a capacitively acting element, in the installedcondition, a conductor surface forms a capacitor together with acorresponding device-side conductor surface which, in the installedcondition, is connected via a contact element to the electrical circuit.A counterfeiter analyzing the isolated circuit board would merelyidentify the board-side conductor surface as an element of high ohmicresistance. However, in the installed condition, this conductor surfaceacts capacitively, since it forms a capacitor together with thecorresponding device-side conductor surface. The transfer function ofthe network changes accordingly.

One particular advantage associated with the present invention liestherein that a copied circuit board is recognized as such by the deviceitself, and this leads to cessation of the device operation.Furthermore, even a copy of the circuit board which, in the isolatedcondition, is functionally identical is not sufficient to circumvent thecopy protection system. Rather, spatial details must also be taken intoaccount. But a counterfeiter cannot detect which spatial details arerelevant for the copy protection system. He would therefore be forced tocopy the circuit board identically in all the spatial details. Theeffort required for such an analysis, which would require microlayerdisassembly of a large area circuit board, exceeds the opportunities andcapabilities of typical counterfeiters.

Further features and advantages of the present invention are disclosedin the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a method according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial, cross-sectional representation of acircuit board according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of aninductor of a circuit board according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of acapacitor on a circuit board according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of anelectrical network assembled from partial networks on a circuit boardaccording to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the copy protection systemfor circuit boards according to the invention. What is shown, in ahighly schematic simplified form, is circuit board 10 with variousactive components 12 the internal wiring of which is not shown inFIG. 1. The circuit board 10 has a plurality of terminals 14 at which,in the installed condition, the circuit board is contacted bycorresponding contacts of an electronic device. Three of the terminals,specifically IN, OUT and COM are particularly emphasized in the figure.The terminal IN has, with the terminal COM, a pair of input terminalsfor a test signal 16, which is applied at a predetermined time point bya controller (not described in detail) during proper operation of theelectronic device (also not described in detail), in which the circuitboard 10 is installed. With the embodiment shown, the test signal 16 isa pulsed signal. Alternatively, also preferably, high frequencyalternating current signals of a predetermined frequency or apredetermined sequence of frequencies can be fed in. The input terminalpair IN/COM is coupled to a network 18 which includes different passiveelectrical components. Purely by way of example, in FIG. 1, threeinductors 20, four capacitors 22 and two ohmic resistors 24 are shown.The precise number of passive electrical components and their actualvalues, i.e. capacitances, inductances or ohmic resistances are also,just like their actual arrangement on the circuit board in relation toone another, not relevant to the present invention. Rather, one strengthassociated with the present invention lies in the almost limitlessvariability of the configuration possibilities that an origin-specificor even circuit board-specific encoding allow through the network ofpassive electrical components.

The terminals OUT and COM together form a pair of output terminals atwhich a response signal 26 of the network 18 can be tapped off. Theresponse signal 26 is dependent on the input signal 16 and thecharacteristics of the network 18. Purely for illustration, in FIG. 1, aschematic spectrum 16′ of the input signal 16 and a spectrum 26′ of theoutput signal 26 are shown. The representation serves only to illustratethat, due to the network 18, a signal applied to the input terminal pairIN/COM experiences a characteristic change which leads to the outputsignal 26, which is tapped off at the output terminal pair OUT/COM.

The controller carries out an analysis of the output signal 26,involving, for example, a spectral analysis. The result of the analysisis compared (in the decision block 30) with an expected value which, inthe exemplary embodiment shown, is stored as a spectrum 36′ in a memory28 of the controller.

If the signal analysis result, e.g. the spectrum 26′, matches theexpected value, e.g. the stored spectrum 36′ within previously definedtolerances, operation of the electronic device continues as normal(event block 32). If the signal analysis result 26′ deviatessubstantially from the expected value 36′, the further operation of theelectronic device is at least partially prevented (event block 34).

In order to make copying of the circuit board 10 more difficult, thecomponents of the network 18 are not applied to the circuit board 10 inthe obvious manner as shown schematically in FIG. 1. Rather, thecomponents are arranged in a hidden manner.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the hidden arrangement of a capacitor 22,with two conductor surfaces 221, 222, which are embedded in the plasticsmaterial of the circuit board which acts as a dielectric. The additionalarrangement of further conductor surfaces 221′, 222′ which themselvesare not part of the network 18 contributes to the difficulty ofanalyzing the circuit board 10. Conductor surfaces 221, 222 of this typenot belonging to the network 18 often arise through “flooding” of boardareas that are not needed and therefore are made without extra costduring normal circuit board production.

FIG. 3 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of an inductor 20 asa component of the network 18. The inductor 20 includes a conductor 201,which is looped in the form of a coil around a cut-out 202 in thecircuit board. The cut-out 202 serves to be penetrated by a fasteningpin 203 with which the circuit board 10 is installed into the electronicdevice. The fastening pin 203 is preferably made from a ferromagneticmaterial so that the presence or absence thereof as a coil core makes asignificant difference to the inductance value of the inductor 20.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a capacitor 22 of the network 18.The capacitor 22 includes the conductor surfaces 221, 222″. A firstconductor surface 221 is a component part of the circuit board 10. Thesecond conductor surface 222″, however, is a component part of theelectronic device into which the circuit board 10 is installed. Anelectrical connection of the device-side conductor surface 222″ to therest of the network 18 is carried out via a connecting wire 223 whichextends within the electronic device and is connected to an electricallyconducting fastening pin 224 which, in turn, contacts the rest of thenetwork 18 via an electrically conductively coated cut-out 225 in thecircuit board 10. The cut-out 225 is in electrically conductingconnection with the rest of the network 18. In this way, it is achievedthat the capacitor 22 only acts as a capacitor in the installedcondition of the circuit board 10. In the isolated circuit board, itmerely represents a region of high ohmic resistance.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of the network 18, which consists of two partialnetworks 18′ and 18″. In the installed condition, the partial networks18′ and 18″ are connected by means of a clamping contact 181 of theelectronic device in which the circuit board 10 is installed, in thatthe clamping contact 181 contacts, in electrically conducting manner,two contact surfaces 182′ and 182″ which are respectively components ofthe partial networks 18′, 18″. It is thereby achieved that the network18 provides an entirely different impulse response or transfer functionin the installed condition than in the isolated condition.

Naturally, the embodiments discussed in the detailed description andshown in the figures are merely illustrative exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. This disclosure leaves open to a person skilledin the art a broad spectrum of variation possibilities. In particular,the precise design of the transfer function or the impulse response ofthe network 18, which is the result of the actual embodiment andarrangement of the components of the network 18, is essentially freelyselectable. The consequences arising from the detection of a non-genuinecircuit board using a method according to the invention can be adaptedwithin broad ranges to the requirements of the individual case. Inparticular, a total cessation of operation of the electronic device, ora partial cessation, which can also comprise prior warning of latertotal cessation or further partial cessation, can be realized byproviding suitable software. The applicant seeks to cover any and allchanges and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.

1. An electronic device comprising: a circuit board having a set ofinput contacts, a set of output contacts and an electrical circuitconnected between the input contacts and the output contacts, and acontroller, wherein the controller is configured, at least once duringoperation of the device, to apply a predetermined test signal to the setof input contacts, to tap off a response signal at the set of outputcontacts, to carry out a signal analysis on the response signal, tocompare a result of the signal analysis with an expected value stored ina memory of the controller, and if no match is determined between thesignal analysis result and the expected value, to prevent, at leastpartially, further operation of at least part of the device, wherein theelectrical circuit is configured as a passive network having acharacteristic transfer function and comprises at least two separatepartial circuits which, in the installed condition, are connected toelectrically conduct by interaction with at least one of: at least onedevice component and at least one installation component, and whereinthe test signal is at least one of a pulsed signal, an alternatingcurrent signal with a predetermined frequency and an alternating currentsignal with a sequence of predetermined frequencies.
 2. The electronicdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passive network furthercomprises at least one capacitive element comprising a conductor surfacewhich, in the installed condition, forms a capacitor with acorresponding, device-side conductor surface which, in the installedcondition, is connected via a contact element to the electrical circuit,whereby the capacitance of the capacitive element in the installedcondition differs from the capacitance of the capacitive element in theuninstalled condition.
 3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the passive network further comprises at least one inductiveelement comprising a conducting wire looped into a coil around a cut-outin the circuit board which, in an installed condition, is penetrated bya ferromagnetic rod or by a ferromagnetic fastening pin, whereby theinductance of the inductive element in the installed condition differsfrom the inductance of the inductive element in the uninstalledcondition.
 4. A method for testing a circuit board which comprises a setof input contacts, a set of output contacts and an electrical circuitconnected between the input contacts and the output contacts,comprising: a) applying a predetermined test signal, configured as atleast one of a pulsed signal, an alternating current signal with apredetermined frequency and an alternating current signal with asequence of predetermined frequencies, to the set of input contacts, b)tapping off a response signal at the set of output contacts, c)analyzing the response signal, wherein a controller performs saidapplying, said tapping and said analyzing at least once during operationof an electronic device which comprises the circuit board, d) comparinga result of the signal analysis with an expected value, and e) if saidcomparing produces no match between the signal analysis result and theexpected value, preventing, at least partially, further operation of atleast part of the electronic device, wherein the electrical circuit isconfigured as a passive network having a characteristic transferfunction and comprises at least two separate partial circuits which, inthe installed condition, are connected to electrically conduct byinteraction with at least one of: at least one device component and atleast one installation component.
 5. The electronic device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the characteristic transfer function is specific to asource of the electronic device.
 6. The electronic device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the characteristic transfer function is unique to thecircuit board.
 7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe controller is configured to deactivate at least a predeterminedoperation of the electrical circuit.
 8. The electronic device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to block activation ofthe electrical circuit.